Scientific Opinion on the safety assessment of the processes ‘Biffa Polymers’ and ‘CLRrHDPE’ used to recycle high‐density polyethylene bottles for use as food contact material

Abstract

This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the recycling processes 'CLRrHDPE' and 'Biffa Polymers'. These processes are used to recycle post-consumer high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles which have been in contact with food, mainly milk, to produce recycled HDPE pellets. Post-consumer HDPE bottles are collected in the United Kingdom and processed by conventional recycling including manual sorting into washed and dried HDPE flakes containing no more than 1 % HDPE from non-food consumer applications. The washed and dried HDPE flakes are heated in two successive continuous reactors under vacuum before being extruded under vacuum into pellets. Recycled pellets are blended with virgin HDPE to produce bottles (both processes) and with virgin polypropylene to produce trays (Biffa Polymers). Bottles are intended for storage of milk and fruit juices. Trays are intended for storage of animal products and raw fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel noted the limited decontamination efficiency under the conditions of testing and concluded that the processes do not satisfy criteria set for HDPE. Uncertainties and consequent conservatism of the selected criteria could allow the conclusion that a process is safe when these criteria are met but not when they are not met. Therefore, the CEF Panel considered that, for the manufacture of recycled bottles for milks and fruit juices and trays for animal products, additional data should be provided before it can conclude on the safety assessment. For the manufacture of recycled trays intended for contact with whole fruits and vegetables including mushrooms, at room temperature or below, the CEF Panel concluded that recycled HDPE obtained from the process Biffa Polymers is not considered of safety concern under the restriction given in the opinion.

Recycling of Post-Consumer Packaging Materials into New Food Packaging Applications—Critical Review of the European Approach and Future Perspectives

“…The modelling parameters used by EFSA are given in [35]. The modelling conditions are the same as given in the EFSA evaluations of mechanically recycled polymers [9,36,37].…”

Safety assessment of the process ‘Pokas Arcadian Recycle Ltd’ used to recycle polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) articles for use as food contact material

“…The Panel has discussed the considerations on the safety evaluation of recycled polyolefins within a closed loop system where the quality of the incoming material can be assured to some extent (EFSA CEF Panel, 2015).…”

“…For non-closed loop systems, the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) has discussed the special considerations to the safety evaluation of recycled polyethylene in an opinion on the recycling of HDPE bottles (EFSA CEF panel, 2015). Three aspects specific to polyethylene are considered: (i) the reference contamination of conventionally recycled post-consumer material, (ii) the modelling to calculate migration from polyethylene material, and (iii) the surrogates to be used in the challenge test.…”

Safety assessment of the process Starlinger recoSTAR HDPE FC 1 – PET2PET used to recycle post‐consumer HDPE closures into food contact closures

“…99.9% food grade HDPE, which means that either the quality of the sorting should reach 99.9% food use materials (per se food contact grade) or it should be demonstrated that the 'non-food' use HDPE closures available from the EU domestic market are largely, if not completely, compliant with Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. In line with the approach for PET bottles (EFSA CEF Panel, 2011) and the opinion on HDPE bottles and other articles (EFSA CEF Panel, 2015), EFSA suggested to the applicant that plastic organisations and/or producers of closures should provide information on whether nonfood contact HDPE closures available from the EU market are compliant with Regulation (EU) No 10/ 2011. If not compliant, differences from food grade HDPE were requested to be provided.…”